Monday, October 6, 2008
Time Management Woes
I always look forward to conference weekend. Its so nice to hear such uplifting, deep, testimonies and council from the leaders of the Church.
But today is Monday and as I reflect on the messages I'm feeling a little discouraged.
Today as I scrubbed and scrubbed my house only to have those little dirty hand prints magically appear again I wasn't so sure I believed President Monson's words about "missing them".
I want to find the time to: read my scriptures and study them, teach my children, keep a clean home, prepare healthy meals for my family, exercise, gain knowlege, develope talents, serve others, magnify my calling, share the gospel, and still have time to find "joy in the journey" and not be some uptight schedule nazi.
I understand there is a time and a season for all things but what if I don't want to wait until my kids are grown to have time for all of these things? What if I want to live my life now? Even on a good day I think I might only check off two things from the above list. Is it really possible to accomplish it all?
It certainly did not happen today.
What do you do?
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7 comments:
Sabrina: I've been reading your blog (I hope that's not annoying - I found the link on Brandi's blog) and just have to say that you are so inspirational to me. You are a super cute mom but you are also real. I can totally relate to the challenges we all face as moms of young kids. I would say, that yes, there is a "time and a season" to all things, and yet I often think that means, "well right now I have little kids so I can't do those other things I want to until I am in a season with more time." While this is true for some things, I am finding that my seasons change even by the week. Some weeks I have more time to do other things, some weeks I don't. Since my youngest is almost 18 months and I no longer have a demanding calling, I am feeling all this freedom and time (yet I still have a hard time keeping the house clean ....)to do some of those things that get pushed aside for something "better" (read: most important). Sorry for the long comment, but just remember as Elder Ballard said last conference that there are moments of joy and times of challenge. I make a to-do list - a realistic one (well, as realistic as it can be with two little ones) and then I have an ongoing to-do list for bigger projects. I try to make time occassionally in my schedule for those bigger things. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know that I think you are amazing and it's fun to hear what is new with your family.
Brooke Peterson (Beeson)
I loved President Monson's talk. I feel like I am always looking to tomorrow and not enjoying where I am at now.
Sounds like you had a frustrating day. But I think you get an amazing amount done! Your house always looks great, your kids look happy and cute, you do such creative things, etc...you are like superwoman to me! I can't even control my own child, clean my house, or cook a slightly complicated meal!
Hi Sabrina, I love your blog and read it often...your sweet Mom told me about it:) After being a mom for over 25 years I think the thing that helped me the most was when I learned the concept of "Good Enough". I had a tendency to want everything perfect and to do everything very well. When I started to ask myself "Is this good enough?" I found much more time open up and myself a lot less stressed. Families are often affected by a mom's mental and emotional well being. Remeber to care for yourself in a way that will give you the strength and energy to care for your family. You know how they tell parents on an airplane to put the air mask on themeselves first...then their children? It works the same at home...You are a great mom, cut yourself a little more slack:)
Laurie Bush
I love love loved presiden monsons talk and it really got me motivated and thinnking about all the tomorrows that might not come. I am so glad you brought this up because I have a tough time getting totally motivated to do everything. I will say it is not easy, but it sure looks like you have a good handle on things!! Seize the day!! (ps I am so glad I am having a baby, finally)
James E Faust said, "My dear grandaughters, you cannot do everything well at the same time. You cannont be 100% wife, 100% mother, 100% church worker, 100% career person, and 100% public service person at the same time. Doing things seqeuntially gives a woman the opportunity to do each thing well in its time to fill a vareity of roles in her life"...this is on my fridge =) I feel ya all the way. I break up my to do list in a week instead of a day so at the end of the week...did I work on my calling, did I do something stimulating for the kids, did I do the laundry, did I do something for me...I try and read scriptures everyday instead of once a week...that may not work out too well. but that system works better for me.
Hi Sabrina, you are dear to my heart! Ever since you and Lyndsey crawled in my front door and followed the peanut trail to our media room. LOVE you! So I check on you now and then thru your blog.
You are being hard on yourself girl!! You need new, accomplishable (is that a word?) goals. Not "no finger prints", just one layer of prints. Unless the child doesn't go back into the room, it is impossible for them to not leave their imprints behind. Imossible I say! And you want your kids to live in your house right?
Look for Improvment not Perfection. Perfection is a pipe dream! Little ones do prevent some things from happening, yup,and that can be frustrating! I sympathize. But if it is a toss up between having kids or a clean house, you guessed it, kids!!! Let the toys pile.
Sometimes when a job is one I HATED I would brake it down into pieces. Then if I accomplished one piece of the job, I would mark that as reaching a goal and celebrate with something I wanted to do like read for 15 minutes.
That way even if I only got part of it done I was successful. This had the odd affect of making me want to do more. I always had to finish a whole segment. After one segment if I couldn't face doing more, I stopped. If I got one part of it done then that was counted a victory.
But often all I needed ws to get started, if I started I could finish. It made me feel more in control of my world and feel like things were doable. I lost the feeling of being a failure. It helped me overcome my phobia of hating to do the dishes! I broke it down to:
1 clear & wipe the table..reward
2 put away food...reward
3 rinse the dishes...reward
4 fill dishwasher ect.
Some times the reward was inviting a friend over and that gave me added interest in finishing a job.
Be clear about your goal and make it reasonable. Some days some things have to slide and other days you play catch up. That is the nature of mommmyhood, it's ok and human.
You are wonderful, no worries!
BTW thanks for making time to see Mat and Dani this summer. They loved it!!
seems like you just wrote about my life! I need to just forget about my dirty dishes and laudry and sit down to play with my boys, which can be hard to find time for! If you find the answer-let me in on it!!
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